Canon 40D v Canon 5D
Author
Discussion

puckrup

Original Poster:

473 posts

230 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
I currently have Canon 40D with 17-85 and 70-300 IS USM lenses. I am considering upgrading to 5D with Canon EF 24-70mm L and 70-200mm f/2.8L lenses. Would I see a noticeble difference in quality of pictures. Is 200mm lens 'big' enough for track day type pictures? Should I consider the Nikon equivalent?

No real complaints about the 40D. Any advice welcome.

N

Podie

46,649 posts

305 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
5D overdue for replacement, so I'd wait for a bit.

Buy the L series lenses, but stick with the 40D in the short term would be the way I'd go.

MonkeyHanger

9,267 posts

272 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
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puckrup said:
Is 200mm lens 'big' enough for track day type pictures?
Unlikely on a 5D unless you're trackside and even then it's short.

40D is much better for your purposes as the AF is better than the 5D. If you're considering an "upgrade" and plan to shoot mostly cars i'd look for a good used 1DMK2 / MK2N. Autofocus is much more important than a few extra Megapixels when shooting cars on track.

puckrup

Original Poster:

473 posts

230 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
Good advice, thanks. Easy to get caught up on the upgrade path. Will consider an L series lens and maybe look into EOS 1D Mk III (the Ds is way over budget)

My budget was circa £3K so could get 1D body only and use existing lenses?

Would the 1D be an improvement for applications I have. Hope these questions aren't too noddy like!

N

ThatPhilBrettGuy

11,810 posts

270 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
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puckrup said:
Would the 1D be an improvement for applications I have.
What are they? You say about trackdays. Anything else?

beanbag

7,346 posts

271 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
puckrup said:
Good advice, thanks. Easy to get caught up on the upgrade path. Will consider an L series lens and maybe look into EOS 1D Mk III (the Ds is way over budget)

My budget was circa £3K so could get 1D body only and use existing lenses?

Would the 1D be an improvement for applications I have. Hope these questions aren't too noddy like!

N
I'd be interested in your 40D body if you're offering. Maybe not the lens however since I want the 17-55mm f/2.8 USM lens.

PM me if you are interested with a price biggrin

MonkeyHanger

9,267 posts

272 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
puckrup said:
Good advice, thanks. Easy to get caught up on the upgrade path. Will consider an L series lens and maybe look into EOS 1D Mk III (the Ds is way over budget)

My budget was circa £3K so could get 1D body only and use existing lenses?

Would the 1D be an improvement for applications I have. Hope these questions aren't too noddy like!

N
Well you've only mentioned track days. If that's all you shoot i'd be tempted to stay with the 40D and invest in lenses.

If you're seriously into (proper) Motorsport then a 1DMK2 of whichever type will be a huge improvement with the right lenses. If you can go to a MK3 and youe current lenses are decent enough you won't be disappointed. My Mk2N is superb but the images i've seen from friends MK3's are on another level.

puckrup

Original Poster:

473 posts

230 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
My applications really are motorsport, track day or anything TVR! Also interested in portrait glamour work but not serious. Sharp, clear track shots and fine detail on exotic cars.

What prompted me was getcarter's shots and also grantgb.com photo shoots. 1D is obviously a professional camera, I doubt if I have the skills to match!

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

240 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
Buying a camera will not improve pictures if you are not taking good pictures.

Not seen your stuff so it might be as well to invest money in training rather than equipment. The better kit can obviously return a better quality of image but if the image is st it doesn;t matter how much $$$$ you throw at kit, it simply wont provide an improvement.

puckrup

Original Poster:

473 posts

230 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
Never a truer word said, that is why I gave up golf many moons ago smile

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

240 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
puckrup said:
Never a truer word said, that is why I gave up golf many moons ago smile
should have bought graphite...

flat-planedCrank

3,697 posts

233 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
puckrup said:
I currently have Canon 40D with 17-85 and 70-300 IS USM lenses. I am considering upgrading to 5D with Canon EF 24-70mm L and 70-200mm f/2.8L lenses. Would I see a noticeble difference in quality of pictures. Is 200mm lens 'big' enough for track day type pictures? Should I consider the Nikon equivalent?

No real complaints about the 40D. Any advice welcome.

N
Hi smile

I'd be tempted to stick with your 40D and a get the 70-200 f2.8, if you want a bit more reach then you could get the canon 1.4x converter (you'll only lose 1 stop with it in place) giving you a 98-280.

If you want a second body for detail shots then a 5D would be ideal, I'd probably not use it as a main body for taking on-track shots. As has been mentioned, a replacement model is expected soon so it might be worth waiting to see how things pan out (pun intendedwink).

Either way the 70-200 f2.8 IS L is a world-class sports zoom...


Cheers.

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

240 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
tbh an f4 is going to be plenty fast enough for 90% of the time out doors

nick_bbb

5,506 posts

265 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
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People have been saying there will be a new 5D out soon for about 18 months! rofl

beanbag

7,346 posts

271 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
flat-planedCrank said:
puckrup said:
I currently have Canon 40D with 17-85 and 70-300 IS USM lenses. I am considering upgrading to 5D with Canon EF 24-70mm L and 70-200mm f/2.8L lenses. Would I see a noticeble difference in quality of pictures. Is 200mm lens 'big' enough for track day type pictures? Should I consider the Nikon equivalent?

No real complaints about the 40D. Any advice welcome.

N
Hi smile

I'd be tempted to stick with your 40D and a get the 70-200 f2.8, if you want a bit more reach then you could get the canon 1.4x converter (you'll only lose 1 stop with it in place) giving you a 98-280.

If you want a second body for detail shots then a 5D would be ideal, I'd probably not use it as a main body for taking on-track shots. As has been mentioned, a replacement model is expected soon so it might be worth waiting to see how things pan out (pun intendedwink).

Either way the 70-200 f2.8 IS L is a world-class sports zoom...


Cheers.
Don't tempt him to stick with the 40D!!! I want to get my hands on one after my disappointing shop in Dubai last Christmas!!!!

hehe

P.S. I'm still after a 40D and a Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens if anyone has one up for grabs for a good price.....

Byker28i

92,675 posts

247 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
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I have a 40D as I mostly shoot sport and cars. The 5D is really a brilliant portrait/landscape body.

Lenses - I have a 10-22, 24-105, 70-200 and 100-400 which covers the range well. Depending on where you shoot your cars the 70-200 might be ok, or you may need the longer reach. Obviously you could go the 70-200 2.8 IS with a 1.4 or 2x convertor.

I'd stick with the body and invest in glass.

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

240 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
nick_bbb said:
People have been saying there will be a new 5D out soon for about 18 months! rofl
yep! Which is why I grabbed a bargain when I got mine!! One will be due but the fact its lasted this long is testiment in itself to how good it is

As Byker said its great for landscape (other than dust spots!!) and portrait and would be ok for occasional track/sports but its 3fps with 17 image burst (in raw)is not as fast as the 1d series

Andy M

3,755 posts

289 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
flat-planedCrank said:
I'd be tempted to stick with your 40D and a get the 70-200 f2.8, if you want a bit more reach then you could get the canon 1.4x converter (you'll only lose 1 stop with it in place) giving you a 98-280.
A 40D plus 1.4x extender will actually give a 157-448mm.

70mm x 1.6 (crop factor) x 1.4 (extender) & 200mm x 1.6 x 1.4

flat-planedCrank

3,697 posts

233 months

Friday 2nd May 2008
quotequote all
Andy M said:
A 40D plus 1.4x extender will actually give a 157-448mm.

70mm x 1.6 (crop factor) x 1.4 (extender) & 200mm x 1.6 x 1.4
Sure, I was just mentioning the option to basically replace the reach of the current 70-300 on the 40D smile


Cheers.

Edited by flat-planedCrank on Friday 2nd May 23:29

puckrup

Original Poster:

473 posts

230 months

Saturday 3rd May 2008
quotequote all
I blame Flat Planed Crank for getting 10x better pics than me at Knockhill! I will look at the glass options. Have discounted the 5D for reasons above and will have a look at 1D Mk lll tomorrow in town.

Great hobby to have as a standby when too wet for Sagaris to go on track (soon to break my duck at SIDC track day on 17th May!!!!

Nwink